Hapkido education helps an ophthalmic technician be closer to her community.

Eight years ago, Chuck Edwards, my pastor, friend, and now hapkido instruction partner, approached my son Cameron and I with an idea. He previously used a martial art curriculum from the Tactical Hapkido Association as part of a homeschool “gym class” for his two sons and desired to share this skill with others. He wanted us to join a “team” to help him create a martial arts charter school called “More Than Conquerors” at our home church in Freeport, PA.

Tactical hapkido, also called “Chon Sul Kwan,” is a Korean martial art that uses low kicks, joint locks, strikes, and weapon disarms to help people protect themselves. It’s a “reality-based” self-defense meant to end a fight as efficiently as possible.

My introduction to hapkido came at a time when I was facing many formidable challenges in my life, and my study helped give me the strength and confidence to overcome them.

Christian-based martial arts

I began studying that March, and Chuck and I opened the school the following September. I worked hard almost five nights a week in a strict accelerated curriculum and was a hapkido green belt by the time we opened MTC; I earned my black belt in March 2012.

MTC is a Christian-based martial arts school that is family-based and non-competitive. We started out with a team of six. Through the years, most of the other team members went their separate ways due to college and jobs, leaving Chuck and I teaching and forming a leadership team that became a “family.”

I now teach classes on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. We conduct a biblical lesson at the close of each class. We also teach short biblical life lessons that tie into martial arts self-defense, such as a series called “Armor of God” that one of our high-ranking students recently led.

Individualized hapkido

I teach self-defense in a way that everyone can learn how to protect themselves, no matter their age, physical abilities, or limitations. No one is excluded from our school, under any circumstances, and we adapt techniques to a way that can be individualized for every student when needed.

We have a traveling women’s self-defense team called “Conflict Continuum,” and are invited to give lessons at different venues. This group is one of my true passions with MTC.

I am currently studying for my fourth degree in hapkido, which involves defense with a cane. I’ve taken other classes in various martial arts, one being Modern Arnis, which involves defense using a bamboo stick.

“The best situation”

I have trained and taught hapkido all while working in the ophthalmology office and raising three amazing sons.

I have the best situation here at Allegheny Ophthalmology Associates. We are a large ophthalmic family — most of my co-workers and bosses have worked together 15 to 30 years, and they have great respect for my martial arts instruction. OP